mealworm window feeder and mini mealworms are a fantastic source of protein and water for garden birds. There are many of our resident garden bird species which are declining in number in the UK and the worst hit are those who rely on insects and invertebrates for food. 20 - 30 years ago farms and gardens tended to be more diverse and there were a lot more insects,invertebrates, bees, butterflies and birds than there are now. 

Oftentimes, birds nesting in gardens will lay fewer eggs and fledge fewer young than those living in natural woodland sites – this is likely due to the lack of mature, native trees. The absence of this habitat means that birds are not provided with the insects needed to feed their young, resulting in the reduction often witnessed in garden populations. However, you can help by providing some juicy mealworms of your own for the birds to feast on!

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So far, April has been a very dry month here on the farm. In fact, we haven't had a single drop of rain all month. This means that our spring barley which we planted in early April badly now needs a drink. Rain is forecast next week and I am sure there will be some mightily relieved growers everywhere when the rainclouds appear.

This year, we have tried direct drilling for the first time and we are very excited about the huge positive impact this type of drilling may have on our farm. You may remember that last November Richard topped off a field of mustard which we had sown after harvest as a 'cover crop' to hold nutrients and moisture in the ground.

Mustard planted after harvest last year and used as a cover crop for this year's naked oats

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